ctantly
dead, and thought: "What is my life good for now?"

Before killing herself, she prayed to the goddess: "O Goddess! One only
deity of happiness and character! Partaker of the life of Shiva! Refuge
of all women-folk! Destroyer of grief! Why have you killed my husband
and my brother at one fell swoop? It was not right, for I was always
devoted to you. Then be my refuge when I pray to you, and hear my one
pitiful prayer. I shall leave this wretched body of mine on this spot,
but in every future life of mine, O Goddess, may I have the same
husband and brother." Thus she prayed, praised, and worshipped the
goddess, then tied a rope to an ashoka tree which grew there.

But while she was arranging the rope about her neck, a voice from
heaven cried: "Do nothing rash, my daughter. Leave the rope alone.
Though you are young, I am pleased with your unusual goodness. Place
the two heads on the two bodies and they shall rise up again and live
through my favour."

So Lovely left the rope alone and joyfully went to the bodies. But in
her great hurry and confusion she made a mistake. She put her husband's
head on her brother's body and her brother's head on her husband's
body. Then they arose, sound and well, like men awaking from a dream.
And they were all delighted to hear one another's adventures,
worshipped the goddess, and went on their way.

Now as she walked along, Lovely noticed that she had made a mistake in
their heads. And she was troubled and did not know what to do.

When the goblin had told this story, he asked the king: "O King, when
they were mingled in this way, which should be her husband? If you know
and do not tell, then the curse I spoke of will be fulfilled."

And the king said to the goblin: "The body with the husband's head on
it is her husband. For the head is the most important member. It is by
the head that we recognize people."

Then the goblin slipped from the king's shoulder as before, and quickly
disappeared. And the king went back, determined to catch him.

SEVENTH GOBLIN

_The Mutual Services of King Fierce-lion and Prince Good. Which is the
more deserving?_

Then the king went back to the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his
shoulder as before, and started. And as he walked along, the goblin
said: "O King, I will tell you a story to amuse your weariness. Listen."

On the shore of the Eastern Ocean is Copper City. There a king named
Fierce-lion lived. He turned his back to othe